Yuvraj hits ton as Board XI draws with Australia

Hyderabad, Oct 5 (IANS) Yuvraj Singh hit an entertaining century as the Board President’s XI drew with Australia in the four-day warm-up cricket match here Sunday.Yuvraj struck 113 as the BP XI declared at 292 for four, setting a target of 434 for Australians. The visitors though fared better than their first innings and were 127 for two in 38 overs when both captains decided to call stumps.

Skipper Ricky Ponting remained not out on 58 while vice-captain Michael Clarke was on 36.

The Australians though will have plenty to ponder as they go into the first Test starting Thursday at Bangalore. Their batsmen looked rusty against spinners and apart from Michael Hussey none of the them had a good knock in the middle. Ponting took his time but looked far from confident while handling spinners.

The visitors do not have a frontline spinner and Jason Krejza, who is all set to make his debut in the first Test, came in the firing line of the Indian batsmen in the match.

Resuming at 110 for two, Yuvraj and Wasim Jaffer frustrated the Aussie bowlers, adding 200 runs for the third wicket.

Yuvraj, who has not been picked for the first two Tests against Australia, played his shots freely. Krejza came in for heavy punishment from the duo who hammered him for 76 runs in 11 overs. Yuvraj and Jaffer scored briskly and added 130 runs in 25 overs.

Yuvraj’s innings was studded with seven sixes and as many fours before Stuart Clark (3-33) got the breakthrough when he trapped the BP XI skipper leg-before.

Clark soon tasted another success when he removed Jaffer, also leg before, an over later. Jaffer fell seven runs short of a well-deserved century.

Australia, who are fighting injury problems, had another injury blow when wicket-keeper Brad Haddin had to leave the field after being hit on the glove by a Clark delivery that kept low.

After India declared, the bowlers did not take much time to strike, dismissing opener Simon Katich cheaply for 14 runs. Matthew Hayden, who is coming back to the international cricket after a long injury lay-off, once again failed, losing his wicket to Piyush Chawla.

The captain and his deputy then came together to stem the rot.

Ponting, who struggled against Chawla in the first innings, managed well to avoid the leg-spinner by staying at the non-strikers end.

Clarke though played confidently and used his feet well against the spin.